Clock dial for reduced photographing



Aug. 16, 1960 A. R. BRAULT CLOCK DIAL FOR REDUCED PHOTOGRAPHING Filed Nov. 1'7, 1958 INVENTOR.

HNDRE R BPHULT' ZZQ f F? TTORNE Y5 United States i atent 2,949,905. Patented Aug. 16, 1960 CLOCK DIAL FOR REDUCED PHOTOGRAPHING Andre R. Brault, Merrick, N.Y., assiguor to OPTOmechanisms, Inc., Mineola, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 774,545

1 Claim. (Cl. 58-127) The invention relates to a clock dial which is used in conjunction with cathode ray tubes such as used for oscilloscopes and radar. In order to record the picture on the screen and to know at precisely what time that picture was taken is valuable information in the testing of equipment and in interpreting the picture photographed from the radar screen. Each time that a picture is taken the clock dial is projected onto the film through a lens system which reduces the dial size 10 to l and is photographed on the film adjacent to the picture. Because of the 10 to 1 reduction in photographing, a clock dial has been devised which is readable at this reduced size without obliteration of the pertinent dial divisions or marks and indicia so that the time of the taking of the picture can be determined exactly by reading the photographed clock dial. These reduced photographs of the dial can be read with the naked eye and of course a glass would enlarge them and make them more readily readable.

It is an object of the invention to construct a clock dial for use with film recordation of the time of the taking of the picture at a substantial reduction in size without obliteration of the significant dial indicia and divisions or markings and which can be read directly or easily with a magnifying glass.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred construction in which the figure shows the clock dial enlarged twice from its actual size so that the photographic image of the dial on the film is one-twentieth of the size illustrated.

The clock dial 10 is circular and has a face of a substantially contrasting color from the markings and indicia. Preferably it has a dark face and particularly the color is black. Adjacent the periphery of the dial is a circular band of figures 11 with radial leading and trailing edges, however, they are approximately rectangular. The figures are in a sharply constrasting color and with a dark face, the figures are light in color or white. i1 he figures divide the band into 30 rectangles having spaces therebetween of equal circumferential dimension and of con trasting color. The rectangles and spaces divide the band into 60 divisions. Each rectangle has a leading edge and a trailing edge considered clockwise of the dial. The rectangular figures have substantial radial dimension and are shown particularly as approximately squares representing minutes for a minute hand and seconds for a second hand if the latter should be used. The hole in the center of the dial receives the stems for the hour and minute hands of the clock and the stem of a second hand if that should be used.

Radially inwardly from the band of rectangular figures and adjacent the inner edge thereof, are a series of arrows 12 having points, the point of the first arrow beginning at the leading edge of the first of the rectangular figures at numeral 24. The series of arrows extend circularly around the dial and point to successive five divisions provided by rectangles and spaces. The first arrow point will be at the leading edge of the first rectangular figure at numeral 24 and alternate arrow points will be at the leading edge of each sixth sequential rectangular figure. The intermediate alternate arrow points will be at the trailing edge of the third rectangular figure and each sixth sequential rectangular figure. There are, therefore, five divisions represented by three rectangular figures and two spaces or two rectangular figures and three spaces between arrow points. Preferably the arrows are angularly disposed lines of substantial width and interconnected forming a serrated figure. With the ends of the angular lines also pointed, these points may mark two and a half minute intervals from the points.

Numeral indicia are provided adjacent the inside of each arrow, the indicia being in multiples of 2 with the last numeral indicia being 24 and marking the leading edge of the first rectangular figure. It is apparant that the spaces and figures may be interchanged if desired.

This invention is presented to fill a need for improvements in a clock dial for reduced photographing. It is understood that various modifications in structure, as Well as changes in mode of operation, assembly, and manner of use may and often do occur to those skilled in the art, especially after benefiting from the teachings of an invention. This disclosure illustrates the preferred means of embodying the invention in useful form.

What is claimed is:

-A clock dial for a clock for use with the photographing of the screen of a cathode ray tube with a substantial reduction in its size for photographing the same without obliteration of the markings comprising a dial having an outer edge and a zero position, a band of 30 rectangular figures of solid color circularly spaced in a band adjacent the outer edge of the dial and spaced apart a circumferential distance equal to the circumferential dimension of the rectangular figures, the leading edge of the first rectangle being at zero position on the dial, the rectangular figures having a substantial radial depth and an inward edge, the rectangular figures having a leading edge and a trailing edge in a clockise direction, a series of outwardly directed arrows radially inwardly of the band of rectangular figures extending circularly of the dial and at or adjacent to the inner edge of the rectangular figures, each alternate arrow having its point in alignment with the leading edge of the first and every sequential fifth rectangular figure, each intermediate alternate arrow having its point in alignment with the trailing edge of the third and every sequential fifth rectangular figure, the arrows being angularly directed lines of substantial width interconnected with the adjacent arrow lines and providing an inwardly directed point at the midpoint of the outwardly directed arrows and forming a continuous serrated figure, and numerals from 2 to 24 circumferentially around the dial progressing in multiples of two and adjacent each arrow, and the dial being of a substantially contrasting dark color from that of the rectangular figures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 76,445 Yuen Sept. 25, 1928 291,989 Davies Jan. 15, 1884 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,977 Great Britain of 1896 27,135 Great Britain Oct. 3, 1907 

